Pants dryer and shaper



4 0. s. .VIGERUST EI'AL 2,435,482

I PANTS DRYER AND SHAPER Filed Sept. 5, l946- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J Q 711212 371 20 1a B-Livef 5-\/iqer1 1s1 Julian Lrz i na' $27 By 6) %g462 Attorneys 1 194& o. s. VIGERUST ET Al. 2,435,432

PANTS .DRYER AND SHAPER Filed Sept. 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ueuto r3 Ell-iv E1" 5: \/i5 ErusL Julian. .LElHTIE A tlo rneys Feb. 3, 1948.

Filed Sept. 5, 1946 O. S. VIGERUST ETAL PANTS DRYER AND SHAPER 5 Shee cs-Sheet 3 Julian LBHHE Atlomeys Feb. 3, 1948. s, WGERUST ETAL 2,435,482

PANTS DRYER AND SHAPER Filed Sept. 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIIIAIIIIIIIIPIYI Inv a n1 urs Ulivr Vijerusi Julian. La ne A no rneys Feb. 3, 1948. o. s. VIGERUST ETAL. 2,435,482

PANTS DRYER AND SHAPER Filed Sept. 5, 1946' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inrenmrs J5 J, 26 Uliver E: V15 ET'UE L Julian. LaHl 'lE' wwam Patented Feb. 3, 1948 PANTS DRYER AND SHAPER Oliver S. Vigerust and Julian Layne, La Tuna, Tex.

Application September 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,924

11 Claims. (01. 223-73) This invention relates to a machine for use in drying and shaping trousers after laundering or cleaning thereof and is especially adapted to provide a means on which pants or trousers may be applied immediately after cleaning and laundering for supporting the trousers on a stretcher form while being subjected to a drying operation for shaping and stretching the trousers as they are dried back to their original shape and size and for removing all wrinkles therefrom and for creasing the trousers so that they will be immediatel ready for pressing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretching and drying machine which will eliminate the use of tumbling mechanisms generally employed for drying trousers after washing to thereby eliminate the wear incident to such drying operations.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a driven conveyor means for a plurality of pants stretchers for supporting a plurality of pairs of vpants or trousers in a stretched condition while the trousers are conveyed through a heated drying chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of stretcher frame to operate in conjunction with a novel type of conveyor whereby the frame parts will be retracted passing over certain portions of the conveyor to allow pairs of trousers to be applied to or removed therefrom and will thereafter be expanded for stretching the trousers during the movement of the frame through the drying chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher frame for trousers by means of which the trousers are resiliently held and stretched thereon and which functions to prevent the trousers from being stretched excessively so as to rupture the scams or otherwise damage the garment.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view, partly broken away, of one embodiment of the pants stretcher and dryer;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic view in end elevation looking toward the left-hand end of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention for use in drying a single pair of trousers;

Figure 5 is a schematic horizontal sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure6 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the endless conveyor and showing one of the pants stretchers disposed thereon and in a retracted position;

Figure 8 is a similar view of another portion of the endless conveyor and showing one of the stretcher frames in an extended position thereon;

Figure 9 is an end elevational view, partly in cross section of one of the stretcher frames, in a retracted position and disposed on the endless conveyor;

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line Ill-l0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line II-H of Figure 7; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the endless conveyor.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 7 to 12, inclusive, the numeral [5 designates generally a drying chamber which may be of any suitable construction and which is preferably of elongated rectangular shape and provided at one side thereof and adjacent the ends of the chamber I5, with door openings [6 adapted to be normally closed by sliding doors ll which are supported by rollers attached thereto and which ride on a rail disposed above said doors. The rollers and their attaching structure are designated l8 and the overhead supporting-rail engaged thereby, is indicated at I9 in Figures 1 and 3. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, a flexible member 25 is connected at its ends to the remote ends of the doors I! and has portions trained over four or more pulleys 2|, journaled on the side of the chamber I 5 containing the openings l6, and other portions thereof passing over pulleys 22 which are journaled on the left-hand end 23 of the chamber l5, as seen in Figure 3. A lever 24 is pivotally mounted at its upper end at 25 on the end wall 23 and is connected to the flexible member 20 adjacent its opposite end. As seen in Figure l, the adjacent ends of the doors I! are connected by a flexible member 26. Accordingly, when the lever 24 is swung to the left, as seen 3 in Figure 3, the doors I1 will be simultaneously moved to closed positions and when the lever is swung in the opposite direction to the right and back to its position of Figure 3 the doors l1 will be simultaneously returned to open positions.

An endless conveyor and track combination designated generally 21, extends in a zig-zag course throughthe chamber l5a defined by the interior of the chamber l5 and: has a portion thereof extending across the front wall I5b of the chamber I5 and with adjacent portions thereto" extending through the door openings I6, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. As illustrateddn'Figuresfl,

nel shaped hangers 56 in each of which is jour- 8, 9 and 12, the endless conveyor and-trackage 21 includes a frame, designated generally 28;,

comprising a base 29, upright inner and outer The base 29 and sides 30 and 3| are each formed of a sides 30 and 3| and cross braces 32'.

'points by suitable fastenings' 33' or said meeting points may be welded or otherwise secured together. The base 29' includes both longitudinally and transversely disposed angle irons 34 and 35 and the upright sides 30iand" 31' likewise each include perpendicular angle irons 36 and longitudinally disposed angle irons 31. The longitudinally disposed angle irons 31" are each provided, at longitudinally spaced intervals, with inwardly projecting supp'ortingarms 38 which are suitably secured to tubes or rods 39 which are disposed longitudinallyof the conveyor frame 28 and slightly above and substantially parallel to the longitudinal angle members 31. As best seen in Figure 9-, the tubes or rods 39 are supported" by the arms 38' in inwardly spaced relationship to the members 31.

Each of the horizontal brace members 32" rotatably supports a sprocket wheel 40 or.4l' which is journaled in a horizontal plane there'above. The" sprocket wheels 40 are located in the. portion of the conveyor frame disposed on" the outer side of the wall 29' and' intermediate of the ends thereof, and the-remainder of the sprocket wheels 4| are disposed at the ends of the conveyor frame which is disposed externally of the wall 29 and around the portion thereof contained within the chamber 28; An endless sprocket chain" 50 is trained over the sprocket wheels 49' and" 4I,'as best illustrated in Figure 2, so as to follow the undulating, endless path of the" frame 28. As best illustrated in Figures '7, 9 and 12, the two sprocket wheels 40 are provided with crown type worm gears 42 on the upper sides thereof. A shaft 43 is journaled within and longitudinally of the exposed part of the frame 28' and above the sprocket wheels 40' by means of brackets 44, containing bearing portions, which are secured to the uprights 36 of the side 30. The shaft 43' is provided with' a pair'of worms 44' which are keyed thereto and each of which is disposed to mesh with one of the worm gears 42;

As best seen in Figures 9 and 12, a suitable source of power such as an electric motor 46 is secured-to the base 29 and' is provided with adriven belt pulley 41 which is disposed in transverse alignment with abelt pulleyi48' on the shaft 43. endless belt 49 is trained over the belt pulleys 41' and 4"8for revclvingthe shaft 43 and the worms 45 to revolvethe sprocket wheels 49 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures-2 and 1'2"; fprmovingthe endless sprocket chain and the idlersp'rocket wheels M inthe same direction as the driven sprocktwheels 4'9; g

A plurality of carriages,-each designated gennaleda pair of grooved rollers 51 which are dis posed-in vertically spaced relationship and which 1 are adapted to engage above and beneath the rails 39 which are of, circular cross section and substantially conforming to the curvature of the grooves of the rollers 51 for movably mounting the carriage 5i thereon. As clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,, a plurality of. pairs of rollers 51 of each carriage 5| engage each of the rails '39.

As best seen in Figures"9 and" 10, the upper frame section 53 is provided with a pair of longitudinally disposed rails 58 which are likewise circular in cross section, and whichextendfrom end-to-end thereof and whichare securedto the end portions of the frame section 53" and disposed in inwardly spaced relationship to the sides-thereof andwhich engage pairs of grooved rollers 59, corresponding to the rollers 51 andvwhich are mounted in channel shaped hangers 60 of the same construction as the hangers 58.

The hangers 60 are secured to and depend from the corresponding arcuate waist band sections 6| which form the lower end of a pants stretching frame, designated generally 62', and each of said sections" BI is provided with a plurality of hangers 60 at each side thereof; The stretcher frame 62' also includes arcuate seat engaging sections 53 which are larger, than and disposed above the section El and supported thereby by means of upwardly and outwardly extending brace members 64. The parts (it, 63 and 64 may beformedof' any suitable, substantially' rigid metal. As best seen in Figure 10; the band sections GI and 6-3 are provided with diametrica'l connecting portions 65' and 65,, respectively, which-extend between the ends of the arcuate portions of said bands", and" which are provided with intermediate; outwardly off-set portions 61 and-58, fora purpose whi'ch'will hereinafter become apparent. The" band sections BI are each provided with two upwardly projecting apertured cars 69, disposed adjacent the ends of the arcuate portions thereof and to each of which is'pivotally' connected an upwardly extending brace 10. The upper ends of the braces 1i! are each secured rigidly to-the lower end of an up-' wardly'extending stretcher arm 1|, sothat each of the bandsections 61' supports-apair of pivotally' mounted stretcher arms 1!. As best seen in Figure 9-, the upper, freeend's of the stretcher arms 1|, which constitute a pair of'said arms and are supported by the same band section H, are connected by aninverted 'U-shaped member 12, which is preferably in the 'f'orn'i of a strand of relatively heavy, resilient wire.

A supporting standard 13'; extends upwardly from each of the band sections 63 and is rigidly connected thereto, intermediate the-ends of the arcuate portion thereof. The standards 1'3 converge toward their upper, free ends and are provided with longitudinally spaced inwardlyproject'ing supporting arms T l-which support-bearings-15; disposed on theinn'er ends thereof. A V

rod 16 is reciprocally mounted in the bearings I5 of each of the standards 13. Each rod I6 has a collar 77 secured thereto above its upper bearing I5 and to which the adjacent ends of a pair of links I8 are pivotally connected. The stretcher arms II are provided adjacent their upper ends with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures 79 to selectively receive fastenings 80, by means of which the remote ends of the links I8 are pivotally connected to the stretcher arms II. A rod 8| is reciprocally mounted in a bearing portion of a bar 82 which is secured to and disposed transversely of the lower section 54 of the carriage 5i. The rod M is disposed for reciprocation in substantially a vertical plane and is provided at its upper end with a cross head 83 to which the adjacent ends of a pair of rigid links 84 are pivotally connected. As seen in Figure 8, the remote ends of the links 8 5 are pivotally connected to ears 85 which project from the waist band portions 57. jacent ends, are provided with upwardly projecting apertured ears 86 to which is connected a pair of rigid links 81. The opposite ends of the links 81 are pivotally connected at 83 to the lower ends of the rods IS. The rod SI is reciprocally disposed in a sleeve E9 which is located beneath the carriage 5| and which is provided with brace arms 99 which extend therefrom and which are secured to the underside of the carriage SI and with additional connecting arms 9i which project therefrom and which are secured to the upper side of the chain 50, as best seen in Figure 8. The rod 8| is provided adjacent its upper end with a fixed collar 92 and carries a contractile coiled spring 93 thereon and between the collar 92 and the bearing of the bar 82; said spring being connected at 94 to the collar 92 and at 95 to the bar 92.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the portion of the frame 23 which is located on the outer side of the wall IE2: is provided with a longitudinally extending track 96 including an elevated, substantially horizontal intermediate portion 91 and downwardly inclined end portions 98 forming ramps. As seen in Figure 8, the rod BI is provided with a depending fork 99 at its lower end in which a roller 09 is journaled. The roller I is disposed to ride over the track 96 as its carriage 5! moves along the portion of the endless conveyor and trackage 27 which is located on the outer side of the chamber Iii for initially forcing the rod 8| upwardly, for maintaining the rod in an elevated position for a predetermined distance of travel of the carriage 5|, and for thereafter permitting the rod to be drawn downwardly by the recoil action of its spring 93, as the roller I09 rides down one of the ramps 98. As seen in Figure 2, the drying chamber I5a is provided with steam coils located adjacent the bottom or floor thereof and beneath the frame 28 of the endless conveyor 27. The roof of the structure I5 is provided with openings I02 in which driven exhaust fans E03 are disposed for exhausting air from the chamber I50; through the openings I02, above each of which is disposed a cap or cover I04.

From the foregoing it will be readily obvious that a plurality of carriages 5|, each supporting a stretcher frame 62, may be mounted on the rails 39 and connected to the chain 50 by the arms 9i to be moved by the endless undulating route of the endless conveyor across the front wall I5b and back and forth through the chamber Ida. The carriages 5| are preferably so arranged that a plurality of carriages and stretch- The links 89, near their ader frames 62 is at all times disposed within the chamber I5a so that as one carriage enters the chamber another carriage will move outwardly therefrom. Assuming that the chain 50 is moving in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, and that a pair of trousers has been removed from stretcher frame 02 and another pair of trousers to be dried and stretched has been applied thereto while said frame was over the horizontal portion 9! of the track .96, as said carriage 5I and stretcher frame 62, only one of which has been illustrated, moves toward the left and toward the left-hand door or opening I6, another stretcher frame and-carriage is approaching the other door opening I6. By moving the lever 24 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, to its position of Figure 3, the two doors I! will be opened as seen in Figure 1 so that as the one carriage and stretcher frame enters the chamber I5a through the left-hand door opening I6 another carriage and stretcher frame will pass outwardly through the other, right-hand door opening I6. As the last mentioned carriage and stretcher frame begins to traverse the straight portion of trackage 28, which is disposed outwardly of the wall I51), its roller I00 will engage the ramp 98, located therebeneath, to force the rod 8| upwardly, so that when the carriage frame has reached the position over the horizontal track portion 91 the parts will be in the position illustrated in Figure 7 and with the rods I5 elevated so that the stretcher arms II are contracted. Likewise, the links 94 will be drawn upwardly so that the band sections BI and 63 will have been drawn toward one another and into their positions of Figure 7, from their positions of Figure 8, with said parts riding on the rails 58 of the carriage 5| through engagement of the rollers 59 therewith. With the stretcher frame 62 thus contracted, the pair of trousers which have been dried can be readily removed from the frame 62 and another pair of trousers applied thereto, during the time that the carriage frame is traversing the horizontal track portion 91. In applying the trousers to the frame 62, the waist band of the trousers is engaged about the band sections 6| and the seat or hip portion thereof is fitted around the band sections 63. Each of the legs of the trousers engages a pair of the stretcher arms II and is disposed over the uprights 13, which is located outwardly thereof. As a result, as the carriage frame continues to move along the endless conveyor and track, the roller I00 will engage the other ramp 98 and ride downwardly therealong to permit the spring 93 to retract the rod 8| and the parts connected thereto in a downward direction. This will force the band sections GI and 63 outwardly of one another, through engagement of the rollers 59 with the rails 58, and will also draw the rods I6 downwardly so that their links "I3 will swing the stretcher arms II outwardly for stretching the pants legs and other portions of the trousers. This operation is repeated with each carriage and stretcher frame as it moves over the track 96. During the movement of the carriages and stretcher frames through the drying chamber I5a, the hot air from the steam coils IN is drawn upwardly by the fans I03, through the stretcher frame 62 and the trousers contained thereon, not shown, and the moist air is exhausted through the outlets I02, so that the trousers are dried and stretched back to their natural shape and size during their passage through the drying chamber I5a.

Bym'eans. of this operatioma pair of trousers immediately afterwashing orcleaning andfwithe out. being subjected; to; a tumbling operation. for extracting the water or'liquidtherefrom, mayhe applied toone of the. stretcher frames 6.2. and air dried'while makingv one. circuit; of? the conv y 21 and while being dried; will beresiliently held in. a stretched condition tov prevent shrinkage thereof; It will, be noted that the'frame 62 is resiliently held in extendediposition by thespring 9.3 so that-the stretching pressure applied. to'the garment is. of a yieldable type. to prevent. an undue stretching pressure being, exerted. thereon which would tendto. damagev the cloth or seams thereof and. also to adapt the stretching frames to trousersof various sizes,

The stretching and drying apparatus; as: previously. described is adapted. for use; in large plants: having a large: number of pairs, of: trousers which are washed or cleaned, dai1y.. For smaller plants, a slightly modified form of. the unit may be provided. and which is illustrated, in Figuresi, and 6.. In this. embodiment of the invention. a relatively small drying: chamber; [05 issprovidedhaving. door openings. H15 in:v Opposite of the: track Hil ,.andin.annro.achhig said; end the repeatedby moving. the carriage and frame-.inthe opposite: direction on the track: M I.

Various other modifications and. changes. are likewise; contemplated and; may obviously be resorted. to, without departing from the spirit and scopeof the; invention asherein'after defined. by

sidesthereof and which are normally closed by doors fill. The. doors [0 1; are. slidably mounted on. guide-ways I08; disposed on the outer side of the. building i105; and adapted; to. be manually actuated independently for movementtoopen or closed positions. The structure L05 contains. a steam coil 1:09: which; is located adjacent the bottomor floor thereof: and is provided with a. single exhaust fan, not shown, disposed, in an opening of. the roof. of the, structure H15 and contained within an; apertured hood or cap: llll. The exhaust fan and roof opening may correspond with the exhaust fan Hi3 and roof. opening. I02 as previously described and; as illustrated in Figure 1, for carrying off hot air from the, steam coil I09 As disclosed in Figures 4, 5; and 6, a, substantially straight section of, track Hi isprovided having'elevated, spaced parallel rails: H2, corresponding to the rails 39 and forsupporting a carriage. 5|, of the same, construction as the carriage. previously described and on which is mounted a stretcher frame. 62. corresponding to the stretcher frame previously described. The track. [H1 is not provided with conveyor means and; in lieu. of the track'member- 9B'isprovided at each. end. thereof with. a center rail H2, having; a downwardly inclined, inner end or? ramp, 3,. The track section Hi extends through: the drying chamber i055 and through each, of the. openings [06 thereof. When the carriage and frame is located atv either end of. the track Hi, the roller lioii thereof will be. in engagement: with the. horizontal portion of the. rail M3; for; retracting the stretcher frame 62, as. previously described-,, so that trousers thereon can be. removed and; an- .otherpain, to be dried and. stretched, can, be applied thereto. The. carriage and frame ,isthen moved toward the drying. chamber i 05. and the adjacent door Hil is opened to permitthe carriage and frame to enter through the door opening 06, after which the door is closed andthe frame left in the chamber for. a sufficient time to permit the trousers: thereon. to be; dried. As the carriage. 5imoves, toward the dooropening I 05 its roller tilt will ride over. the ramp Ill to permit the spring 93' toexpand the frame 52', as previously described. After the drying. operation has been completed, the other door 111:! isopened and the carriageand frame; isma-nually drawn from the drying chamber 1% to thQOPPOSifiGrQRd the; appended. claims.

life-claim:

1. In an apparatus for stretching andfdrying trousers, a drying chamber having means for oil'- culating-hot air therethrough, a track extending through said drying chamber and being pro ided with" a plurality of'rai-l's, a carriage-having wheels for engaging said rails, a pants stretchingframe mounted on said carriage and provided with spring means fornormally retainingtheframein an extended position for stretching a pair of trousers disposed thereon, and means forming a part of the trackand disposed in a section thereof for engaging a portion of the stretcher frame for retracting the frame; for permitting a; pairof trousers to be removed; therefrom or applied thereto,, said, carriage and its supporting frame being mounted for movement .on the rails for movement through the drying chamber.

2. A drying. unit as in claim 1, and driven conveyor means associated with the track frame and connected to the carriage for conveying the carri'age through the drying chamber.

3. A drying unit as in claim 1, said track frame being endless and being provided with a portion disposed within the drying chamber and a portion disposed externally thereof,. said first mentioned portion being of undulating formation.

4;, A drying unit as in claim 1, said track frame being endless and being provided with av portion disposed within the drying chamber and a portion disposed externally thereof, said first mentioned portion being of undulating formation, and driven. conveyor means associated with the track frame and connected; to the carriage for conveying the carriage, through the drying chamber;

5. A drying unit as in claim 1, said drying frame being. formed of) complementary sections movable, on. said carria e toward and away from one. another, and. each of said; drying frame. sections. being extensible laterally in a. direction substantially at. right ang es. to the dir ction of m v ment of'the, sections, relatively to. e Ot .6 A. drying unit. as in claim 1, and driven conveyor means associated with the track frame and connected to the. carriage for conveying the carriage through the, drying, chamber, said endless conveyor means including an endless chain, sprockets 'journaled in the. trackv frame and over which the chain. is trained, certain of. said sprocketshaving crown type worm gears, a driven Shaft journaled in. a portion of the. track. frame...and worms. keyed to said shaft and meshing with said wormgearsfor driving. saidchain, r

7. In a stretching frame for trouse s, pair of framesections-a base, wheeledv means for mount ing the frame sections for movement toward and away from one another on said base each of said frame sections havingarcuate waist and'seat eng'agmgportions and a trousers leg engaging por-v tion, link and pushrodmeans slidably mounted in the stretcher frame and base and movable in one direction for moving the frame sections away from one another and for expanding the trousers leg engaging portions of each of the frame sections, and spring means for normally urging the push rod and link means in said direction and yieldably holding the parts in extended positions.

8. A device as in claim 7, a track provided with rails, wheel means mounted on said base and engaging said rails for mounting the stretcher frame for movement along said track, and means forming a part of the track frame for engaging a portion of the push rod and link means for moving said parts in the opposite direction to retract the stretcher frame parts.

9. A device as in claim 7, a track provided with rails, wheel means mounted on said base and engaging said rails for mounting the stretcher frame for movement along said track, and means forming a part of the track frame for engaging a portion of the push rod and link means for moving said parts in the opposite direction to retract the stretcher frame parts, and a drying chamber through which said track frame extends and on which the stretcher frame is movable thereon for drying and stretching a pair of trousers supported on the frame, while the frame is passing through the drying chamber.

10. In a drying unit for trousers, a drying chamber, a track extending therethrough, an expansible drying frame mounted for movement on said track and adapted to support a pair of trousers to be dried, and yieldable means for holding the frame in an extended position for stretching the trousers disposed thereon and while the frame is moving through the drying chamber.

11. A drying unit as in claim 10, said resilient means for extending the stretcher frame including a push rod having 2, depending end extending into the track frame, and means forming a part of said track frame and disposed externally of the drying chamber for engaging and retracting the push rod for retracting the stretcher frame to facilitate the removal from or the application of a pair of trousers thereto.

OLIVER S. VIGERUST. JULIAN LAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 195,467 Viets Sept. 25, 1877 2,299,041 Schwartz Oct. 13, 1942 

